Lockheed Martin 2011 Annual Report Download - page 23

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings. We cannot predict the outcome of litigation and other
contingencies with certainty.
Our business may be adversely affected by the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies that cannot be
predicted with certainty. As required by GAAP, we estimate material loss contingencies and establish reserves based on our
assessment of contingencies where liability is deemed probable and reasonably estimable in light of the facts and
circumstances known to us at a particular point in time. Subsequent developments in legal proceedings may affect our
assessment and estimates of the loss contingency recorded as a liability or as a reserve against assets in our financial
statements. For a description of our current legal proceedings, see Item 3 – Legal Proceedings and Note 13 – Legal
Proceedings, Commitments, and Contingencies.
In order to be successful, we must attract and retain key employees.
Our business has a continuing need to attract large numbers of skilled personnel, including personnel holding security
clearances, to support the growth of the enterprise and to replace individuals who have terminated employment due to
retirement or other reasons. To the extent that the demand for qualified personnel exceeds supply, we could experience
higher labor, recruiting, or training costs in order to attract and retain such employees, or could experience difficulties in
performing under our contracts if our needs for such employees were unmet. We increasingly compete with commercial
technology companies outside of the aerospace and defense industry for qualified technical and scientific positions as the
number of qualified domestic engineers is decreasing. To the extent that these companies grow faster than our industry, or
face fewer cost and product pricing constraints, they may be able to offer higher compensation to job candidates or our
existing employees. To the extent that we lose experienced personnel through wage competition, normal attrition, or specific
actions, we must successfully manage the transfer of critical knowledge from those individuals. We also must manage
leadership development and succession planning throughout our business. To the extent that we are unable to attract,
develop, retain, and protect leadership talent successfully, we could experience business disruptions and impair our ability to
achieve business objectives.
Historically, where employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements with various unions, we have been
successful in negotiating renewals to expiring agreements without any material disruption of operating activities. This does
not assure, however, that we will be successful in our efforts to negotiate renewals of our existing collective bargaining
agreements when they expire. If we were unsuccessful in those efforts, there is the potential that we could incur unanticipated
delays or expenses in the programs affected by any resulting work stoppages.
Our estimates, forward-looking statements, and projections may prove to be inaccurate.
The accounting for some of our most significant activities is based on judgments and estimates, which are complex and
subject to many variables. For example, accounting for sales using the percentage-of-completion method requires that we
assess risks and make assumptions regarding schedule, cost, technical, and performance issues for each of our thousands of
contracts, many of which are long-term in nature. Another example is the goodwill assets recorded on our balance sheet,
which represent greater than 25% of our total assets, and are subject to annual impairment testing. If we experience changes
or factors arise that negatively affect the expected cash flows of a reporting unit, we may be required to write off all or a
portion of the related goodwill. Changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws, including possibly with retroactive effect, and audits by
tax authorities could result in unanticipated increases in our tax expense and affect profitability and cash flows. For example,
if the corporate tax rate was lowered, our deferred tax assets would be reduced with a corresponding material, one-time
increase to income tax expense; however, income tax expense and payments would be reduced in subsequent years. Actual
financial results could differ from our judgments and estimates. Refer to “Critical Accounting Policies” in Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Note 1 – Significant Accounting Policies for
a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies and use of estimates.
Our future financial results likely will be different from those projected due to the inherent nature of projections, and
may be better or worse than expected. Given these uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K. We expressly disclaim
a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10-K to reflect the occurrence of
subsequent events, changed circumstances, changes in our expectations, or the estimates and assumptions associated with
them. The forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by
the federal securities laws.
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